The annual Taste of Spring held recently at Evraz Place contributed several meals to the Regina Food Bank.

The Regina Food Bank teamed up with Evraz Place, Saskatoon-based Black Fox Spirits and Perdue’s Living Sky Winery at this year’s Taste of Spring event to feed 15,000 people. The event was held May 6 and 7 in Regina at the Evraz Place EventPlex. Regina Food Bank CEO Steve Compton was at the event to witness the generosity first hand.

“I was so impressed that these local companies jumped in to donate all proceeds from the event to the Regina Food Bank,” said Compton. “The donation goes a long way toward fighting hunger in our community.”

In addition to proceeds from the Black Fox Spirits, Living Sky Winery and Evraz Place/Queensbury Convention Centre booths, Taste of Spring attendees donated money and leftover coupons to the cause. Each coupon donated will allow the Regina Food Bank to provide three meals to people in need.

“We wanted to help make a difference in the lives of our fellow community members who turn to the Food Bank for help, so we donated the full value of leftover coupons,” said Alison Wilkie, Catering & Events Manager at Evraz Place. “Everyone should have nutritious food on the table, and it’s our responsibility to support those in our community who need help.”

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About the Regina Food Bank

The Regina Food Bank mission is to serve those most vulnerable in our community by providing programs and service directly and through partnerships in the areas of food provision, essential skills development, and connections to community supports and opportunities.

About Evraz Place

Situated in the heart of Regina, Evraz Place is one of the largest and most influential event complexes in the country. The organization hosts the majority of Regina’s major events every year, including Canada’s Farm Progress Show, the Queen City Ex and Taste of Spring. Evraz Place is home to Canadian Western Agribition, the WHL Regina Pats, the Regina Soccer Association and numerous concerts, trade shows and conventions.

From May 1st to 31st, The Regina Food Bank will work in conjunction with other food banks across the country in support of the national Every Plate Full campaign. A little known fact is that a $20 donation helps to feed a family for a week.

By simply visiting one of the various locations we will be at throughout the month and making your donation, you can ensure that no one in our community goes hungry this summer.

For an updated list of locations and how you can get involved, click here.

In March 2015,852,137people received food from a food bank in Canada. More than one-third of those helped were children.

Food bank use in March was 1.3% higher compared to the same period in 2014 and 26% higher than in 2008, before the start of the global financial crisis. Half of the provinces experienced increases in food bank use in 2015. Hardest hit was Alberta, where unemployment increased by 10% between March 2014 and 2015 in the wake of the dropping price of oil. Three-quarters of food banks in this province reported an increase in use. Nationally, 54% of food banks reported an increase in the number of people requesting food assistance.

It has now been seven years since food bank use reached a low point of 675,735 individuals in March 2008. The need for food banks spiked drastically in 2009 and has hovered at record levels ever since.

Have You Ever Been Truly Hungry?

Have you ever been in doubt of where your next meal was coming from? Give a voice to hunger and tell us about when you, someone you know, even someone you love struggled with true hunger.

To respect your privacy, all stories will be posted on our Facebook page anonymously. How did you find help? Did you find the help you needed? Help to break the silence and the stigma of hunger. To share your story you can submit via email.

Here are some of the stories and experiences that people have shared… Be sure to check back often to read more.